June 16, 2008

SAN DIEGO - San Diego State's Matt Hoffenberg (Simi Valley, Calif.) fired a final-round 4-under-par 68 to win the 93rd annual Southwestern Amateur Championship, held June 10-13 at the 7,715-yard, par-72 Twin Warriors Golf Club in Santa Ana Pueblo, N.M. The Aztec rising sophomore overcame a three-shot deficit to finish with a combined 5-under 283 (71-74-70-68), edging Pepperdine alumnus Jesse Barnsley (-4) by one stroke.

Hoffenberg jumped from fifth place into the lead after carding the lowest score of the final round and then waited anxiously as Barnsley's birdie attempt on the par-4 18th hole came up one inch short of forcing a playoff.

Hoffenberg was one of just three players, along with Aaron Goldberg and Johan Carlsson, to compete in all 15 events for SDSU during the 2007-08 season, posting the second-best stroke average on the team at 72.83. The talented lefty posted four top-10 finishes, including a first-place tie at the Fresno State Lexus Classic in March. At the Aztecs' home tournament, the Barona Collegiate Cup, Hoffenberg shot a 7-under-par 65 during the final round, which is tied for third on the school's all-time list for lowest 18-hole score. For his efforts, Hoffenberg became the first San Diego State golfer to earn Mountain West Conference freshman of the year honors.

Since 1915, the Southwestern Golf Association (SWGA) has held an annual amateur men's golf championship at various courses throughout Arizona, New Mexico, west Texas, northern Mexico and Las Vegas, Nev., making it one of the oldest continuing amateur events in the United States.

Former Aztec All-American Lennie Clements is among several former champions at the Southwestern Amateur who have gone on to have successful careers on the PGA Tour. Clements won the event in 1979, joining such notables as Craig Stadler, Jay Haas, Mark O'Meara, Corey Pavin, Tom Pernice, Jr., Ted Purdy and Nick Watney.